Gun-loading mechanism



{Feb 1, 1949.

Filed May 25, 194-4 o. R. HAAS GUN LQADING MECHANI SM 10 Sheets-Sheer, l

[nvenfar Feb 1, 1949. o. R. HAAS 2,460,384

GUN LOADING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 98 o 46 264 o 4 5g .706 ,1 9 m2 0 o J v. I". 704

v v I I" l o Feb. 1, 1949. o. R. HAAS 2,460,384

GUN LOADING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1944 10 She'ets-Sheet 3 Feb. 1, 1949. O s 2,460,384

GUN LOADING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1944 1o Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenfor 0&0 R Haas Feb. 1, 1949.

O. R. HAAS GUN LOADING MECHANISM 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1944 fnuenfor 1949- o. R. HAAS 2,460,384

GUN LOADING MECHANI SM I Filed May 25, 1944 10 Shets-Sheet 7 [nvenfor OizfqR.HaaS

Feb. 1, 1949. o. R. HAAS GUN LOADING MECHANISM [nvenfor Oifio R.Haad

1O Sheets-Sheet 8 v NA QQN NNN N3. g

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Filed May 25, 1944 Feb. 1, 1949. o. R. HA S v 2,460,384

GUN LOADING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1944 10 SheetsShe et 9 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for automatically loading guns and more particularly to loading mechanisms foruse with guns of large caliber.

The invention is illustrated herein as applied to a gun of large caliber designed for use in an airplane. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved shell magazine for accommodating large shells to be fed therefrom to a gun. To this end and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the magazine provides a substantially continuous antifriction supporting surface for sustaining the weight of the shells as they are indexed in the magazine to release station from which they are withdrawn to be fed into the gun. This supporting surface is illustrated as formed of a plurality of small rolls arranged in staggered relation over which shells pass as they are indexed through the magazine. In order to accommodate a large number of shells in the restricted space available in the nose of an airplane, the magazine is kidney shaped and is located above and to the rear of the gun and substantially concentric therewith. The magazine provides a pair of kidney-shaped tracks each of which is formed of a pair of members between which the shells are confined for movement, and shell-engaging members are positioned between each pair of shells and are interconnected and guided for movement in a path parallel to the path of movement of the shells thereby to index the shells in a st p by step manner through the magazine.

The lower central portion of the magazine is provided with openings through which the shells may pass as they are transferred into ramming position in alinement with the bore of the gun. These openings are normally closed by gates which are opened at a predetermined time during the loading operation to permit a shell to pass from the magazine. In order that the shells may be retained in the magazine during a loading operation, provision is made for rendering the, gate-moving means inoperative at this time with the gates in their closed positions.

The gun is fired at any desired time after it has been loaded by depressing a firing button. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, provision is made for preventing operation of the firing mechanism during a loading operation. Tothis end the firing mechanism is set into operation by the energization of a solenoid in the circuit of which is a switch which is opened during operation of the drive shaft by which the indexing, shell-transferring and loading mechanisms are operated. Accordingly, if the operator should prematurely press the firing button while the gun is being loaded the solenoid will not be energized to actuate the firing mechanism because this switch is open at this time.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel combinations of parts and details of construction will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the shell magazine associated with the breech end of a gun.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the magazine, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the shell indexing mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation partly in section of the rear portion of the magazine, this view being on a larger scale than Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drive mechanisms by which the shells are indexed and loaded into the Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the mechanism for driving and controlling the cam shaft.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the cam shaft illustrating certain of the mechanisms operated therefrom.

Fig. 10 is a section on the lineXX on Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the mechanism for operating the breech switch which prevents operation of the loading mechanism if the breech is closed, and of the mechanism for operating the switch which renders the firing mechanism inoperative during the loading operation.

Fig. 12 is a section on the lineXIIXII of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the magazine illustrating the shell transfer tray and the ramming mechanism.

Fig. is a section on the line XV-XV of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 14.

Fig. l? is a section on the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section through a portion of the breech and tube of the gun showing the mechanism associated therewith for controlling the operation of the breech switch.

Fig. 19 is a timing chart illustrating thesequence of operations of the various mechanisms, and

Fig. 20 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits for controlling the operation of the various mechanisms.

The invention, as illustrated herein, is embodied in a shell feeding and loading mechanism applied to a large caliber gun l6 mounted in a frame which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, is carried by the nose is of an airplane. The shells are supported in a magazine E6 in which they are fed in a step by step manner to a release station of the magazine from which they are transferred into ramming posi tion in alinement with the bore of the gun and then rammed into the gun. The magazine is carried by a frame i8 comprising a pair of side frame members 26 supported at their forward portions on the trunnions 22 of the gun and by a support 2t at their rearward portions. The frame 58 also comprises a rear frame member 26 secured by screws 28 to the rear ends of the side frame members 26.

The shell magazine it comprises a forward wall 36 secured to and extending between intermediate portions of side frame members 2!] and a rear wall 32 carried by the rear frame member 26. The front and rear walls of the'magazine are generally kidney-shaped as illustrated in Fig. 2 and the shells are carried in the magazine as'will be described, for movement in a kidney-shaped path. As shown in Fig. 2, the magazine is located above the gun and is generally concentric with the bore of the gun thereby to economize on the limited space available in the nose of the -plane. The movement of the shells through a kidneyshaped path in the magazine snake's it possible to use the maximum number of shells in the limited space. V a a The rearward ends of the shells are supported in the lower run of their path of movement by a track formed of a plurality of antifriction rolls 34, arranged in staggered relation as shown in Figs. 3 and i thereby to provide a substantially continuous antifriction surface. These rolls are carried by pins 3? (Fig. 4) supported by spaced plates 2-3 which are in turn carried by bolts 5 3 secured to and extending forwardly from the rearward wall 32 of the magazine. The upper run of the track is similarly forinediof a plurality of antifriction rolls &2 arranged in sta gered relation and carried between plates 14 which extend upwardly from a curved plate lfi (Fig. 3) which is carried by a plurality of supporting tubes :53 extending between the front and rear walls of the magazine. meet the rear wall of the magazine to the rearward frame member 25. For this purpose threaded plugs 5d are fitted into the rearwar ends of the tubes ill and receive screws 52 pass ing through the frame member 28. Tapered pins 55 pass through a laterally extending flange of These tubes it also serve to con step by step manner as will be 4 the plate at, the tube 43 and the plug 55 thereby to secure the plate and the plug to the tube.

Extending around the periphery of the rear wall 3'1 of the magazine and spaced forwardly therefrom, is a series of plates 56 (Figs. 3 and i) vhich form guideways for the rims R of the shells Sto prevent axial movement of the shells rcla tively to the magazine. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the shells are supported. throughout the upper run of their path of movement and through a large part of their lower 1. .1 by the antifriction rolls E l and 42, thereby to reduce the frictional resistance to their movement. In the upper run of the path the shells are supported between the rolls it carried by the plate file and the flange-guiding plates 53, and in their lower run between the rolls and the lower edge of the plate 45.

The forward portions of the shells are guided for movement in a track 62 (Figs. 1 and 41). This track is formed of a central plate member Bil pinned to the tubes #38 and similar in construction to plate lt. Antifriction rolls 2-6 are carried by the upper portion of the plate to support the weight of the shells at their forward portions in the upper run of their path. To constrain the forward portions of the shells against movement upwardly from the rolls a curved plate 63 surrounds the shells, this plate being carried by tubes ls (Fig. 1), extending between the forward and rear walls so and 32 of the magazine. The lower ends of the plate 58 are secured to bra-ck ets '52 extending upwardly from the side frame members 20. These brackets extend inwardly toward each other below the shells in the lower run of the magazine and carry antifriction rolls "i l arranged substantially parallel to the rolls 3 3 of Fig. 3.

For indexing the shells around the magazine a rod 15 is positioned between each pair of shells, each of these rods carrying a pair of shell-engaging members is shaped as indicated in Fig. 3. These rods l6 have secured to their ends T-shaped arms 89, the outer ends of which are connected by links 82 to the adjacent T-shaped arms thereby to provide an endless chain. The links are connected to the arms as by pins 8 which carry rolls 86 (Fig. l) arranged to ride on tracks st, 92 carried by the front and rear walls 32 of the magazine. These tracks are adiustably secured by screw and slot connections 9% (Fig. 3) to their supporting walls.

Screws $23 threaded through bosses I00 carried by the walls engage shoulders I!!! on the tracks to facilitate the accurate adjustment thereof.

The tracks 9E and 92 terminate inwardly of the ends of the magazine to permit the .rolls $6 to be received between teeth 5.92 of sprockets lil l carried by shafts itfi journaled between the front and rear walls of the magazine. These sprockets are driven in a later described, to operate the chains formed of the links 32 and arms 8B thereby carrying the rods to move the shells in a step by step manner through the magazine. The lower run of the chains are supported by tracks E08 carried by the front and rear walls of the magazine.

In loading the magazine, the shells are inserted into the upper central portion thereof. In order topermit the shells to be inserted therein with the flange of the shells lying between the plate 56 (Fig. 14) and the rear wall 32 of the magazine, the plates 44 carrying the supporting rolls 42 (Fig. 3) terminate at opposite sides of the upper central portion of the plate 46 to provide a space therebetween. Mounted in the space thus formed is a depressible plunger III) urged upwardly into shell supporting position by a spring II2 thereby normally to form a continuation of the track formed by the rolls 42. The plunger I I 6 includes a shank portion I I4 (Fig. 14) slidable in a bore in the plate 46. When a shell is to be inserted in the magazine the nose is inserted between the plate 66 and the plate 68 and the rear end of the shell placed on the plunger III!. This plunger is depressed by force exerted on the back end of the shell until the flange of the shell is below the lower edge of the flangeengaging plate 56, whereupon the shell is moved rearwardly to carry the flange back of the plate 56 so that upon release of the shell the plunger III) forces the shell into the position shown in Fig. 14.

In order to absorb the shock when the nose of the shell is inserted between the plates 64 and 68 a hardened metal insert II6 (Fig. 14) is provided in the plate 66 in place of the antifriction rolls 66 at this point. The plate 68, which normally constrains the forward portion of the shell against upward movement, is recessed at II8 to facilitate insertion of the shell between the plate 68 and the plate 66. In order to hold the shell in position after it has been inserted in the magazine, a forwardly extending bracket I20 is secured to the plate 68 and projects below the recessed portion of the plate 68 to engage the shell forwardly thereof.

The indexing of the shells in the magazine is effected by intermittently driving the sprockets I64 through a distance sufficient to move a shell into position to be removed from the magazine. The shaft I66 carrying the sprockets at one side of the magazine, extends forwardly of the front wall 36 of the magazine (Figs. 1 and 5) and is connected by a coupling I22, a variable speed mechanism I24 and bevel gears I26, I28 to a cam shaft I36 journaled in bearings I32 in the side frame members 26. This cam shaft is driven intermittently by means to be described, thereby to cause an intermittent operation of the shaft I66. The variable speed mechanism I24 may be similar in construction to that illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,309,595, granted January 26, 1943, on an application filed in the name of L. E. James. Such a mechanism causes slow starting and stopping of the drive shaft I66 and rapid movement of the shaft between the starting and stopping portions of the cycle of operation.

The shells are removed from the magazine at a release station at the lower central portion, the tracks being interrupted at this portion of the magazine and gates I 36 (Figs. 3 and 4) being provided for supporting the shells until that portion in the cycle of operations in which the shells are to be removed from the magazine. The gates I36 are formed of curved plates slotted at I36 to receive bolts I36 by which the gates are supported for sliding movement. These bolts are in turn carried by brackets I 46, the bracket for the forward gate being carried by the bracket 12, whereas the bracket for the rearward gate is carried with the roll supporting plate 38. The under surfaces of the gates are provided with rack teeth I 42 engageable with the gear segments I66 carried by a shaft I66 Iournaled in a bearing I68 in the rear frame member 26 and in bearings I56, I52 (Fig. 8) carried by a transverse frame memher I 54 secured to the side frame members 26. Upon movement of the segments in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, the gates are moved to the left to free the shell supported thereby for downward movement out of the magazine.

The shaft I46 is operated to open the gates I34 in timed relationship to the indexing movement of the shells in the magazine. The forward portion of the shaft I46 (Fig. 8) carries a pinion I56 engageable with teeth I58 of a rack I66 mounted for vertical movement in a guideway I62 secured to the front wall of the frame member I54. The rack I66 also has rack teeth I 64 arranged for engagement by a gear segment I 66, carried by a transversely extending shaft I68 in a forwardly extending bracket I10 secured to the frame member I54. The gear segment I66 is arranged to be connected during the normal operation of the apparatus by a pin I12 (Fig. 9) to the rearward end of a lever I16 carried by the shaft I68 and provided at its forward end with a cam roll I16 received in a groove I18 (Fig. 8) in the side of a cam I89 carried by the cam shaft I36. It will be noted that the cam track I18 is concentric with the shaft I36 through the greater portion of its length so that the gates are in their closed positions except for a short time only during a cycle of operations. During the loading of the magazine the gates must be maintained in their closed positions to prevent the shells dropping from the magazine at the release station. Accordingly, the gear segment I66 is disconnected from the lever I'M by moving the pin I12 out of engagement With the lever so that movement of the lever will not be imparted to the gear segment I66. In order to position the gear segment in its initial position as shown in Fig. 8, when it is disconnected from the lever I14, the segment is formed with an upwardly extending arm I82, engageable with a stop screw I86 threaded into the bracket I16.

The pin I12 is carried by one end of an arm I 86, (Fig. 10) the other end of which carries a guide pin I86 slidable in a bore I96 in the bracket I10. Pivoted to the outer end of the pin I 88 is an upwardly extending arm I62 (Fig. 8) the upper end of which is pinned to a forwardly and rearwardly extending shaft I66 to the rear end of which is pinned an arm I96. The upper end of the arm I96 is provided with a handle I98 slidable in a cylindrical portion 266 of the arm and provided at its inner end with a pin 202 arranged to be received in one of a pair of recesses 266, one of which is shown in Fig. '7, in a plate 266 secured by screws 268 to the front wall 36 of the magazine. With the arm I96 in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 the gear segment I66 is connected to the lever I16 by the pin I12 so that upon operation of the cam shaft I36, the gates I34 will be opened and closed. However, if the handle I96 is retracted and the arm I66 swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7, the shaft I64 will be turned to rock the arm I62 in a direction to withdraw the pin I'IZ from engagement with the lever III, the pin seating in a bore 2i 6 in the bracket I16, thereby locking the gear segment I66 in the position shown in Fig. 7. Thus the gear segment is now disconnected from the lever I16 and the gates will remain closed during operation of the cam shaft its to enable loading of the magazine.

The shells are removed from the magazine upon the opening of the gates I36 and carried into ramming position by a transfer tray 2M (Fig.

aeeasss 14), having a pair "of downwardly extending brackets 2 5 to each of which is pivoted a pair of parallel links 25 8, 2% extending frowardl-y of the magazine and pivoted: at 226 (Fig. I) to the side frame members as. upper links 253' carry cam rolls 222 received in grooves 224 in cams 22$ carried by the cam shaft $36 so that upon rotation of the cam shaft the transfer tray is moved downwardly into the broken line position shown in- Fig. 14 in which the shellcarriedthereby is alined with the bore of the gun in position to be rammed thereinto.

Pivoted to opposite sides of the transfer tray is a pair of doors 2% arranged for engagement with the upper portion of, the shell, when the shell is seated in the transfer tray as indicated in Fig. 16. Each of these doors has a. downwardly extending arm 232 acted upon by compression spring 23 2 seated between the arm and. the transfer tray for moving the doors inwardly into engagement with the shell. This movement of the doors is. limited by stop screws 23.6 so that the doors will not close completely when no shell. is

in the transfer tray. The doors are held locked v in the positions. shown in Fig. 16 during downward movement of the tray to carry the shell in ramming position thereby to hold the shell securely therein. For this. purpose a locking arm 2 46 (Figs. 15. and 1.7) isv provided, the arm being pivoted on a. pin 2.42 carried by a boss 24313- on the under side of the transfer tray. This arm is normally held bya spring-pressed plunger 246 so that. its outer ends lie between the downwardly projecting. portions 232 of the doors 230. in this position the locking arm prevents inward movement of these downwardly projecting portions of the: doors and accordingly prevents openingof the doors against the force exerted by the springs 23s.. arm 22% is moved into inoperative position as illustrated in Fig. 17 as the transfer tray moves upwardly into shell receiving position. to permit opening of the doors in response to a force exerted thereon. by engagement of the doors with a shell when the tray is moved into positionto receive a shell as indicated in Figs. 1-4 and 16. For thus moving the arm. 24o into inoperative position it is. connected by a link 2-48 to a downwardly extending arm 25!!- the upper end of which is pivoted at 252 to the transfer tray 214-. The lower end of the arm 2E9 lies in the of movement of a cam 254 carried by the gates operating shaft M6. This cam occupies; the

position illustrated in Fig. during upward 5.5

movement of the transfer tray so that the lower end of the arm is cammed inwardly causing the locking arm are to move into inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1'7 and permitting the doors to be opened by the shell against the force 1 of the springs 23's to. receive the shell, at the repivoted thereto plates 2 urged by torsion springs 258 into engagement with the projectile, which is of smaller diameter than the cartridge case. These plates are permitted to. open as the shell When . bracket 27%.

is. moved forwardly from the tray during the ramming operation so that the larger diameter portion of the. shell may pass therethrough. In order to hold the shell against. axial movement the magazine between the opening of the gates and the locking of the doors 230 of the transfer tray, the rim of the shell is received by a groove a member 2617 (Figs. 3 and I4) secured to the plate 48 at the rear of the magazine. Any forward movement of the shell in the transfer tray as it is being lowered intoramming position is limited by an upwardly extending plate 262- secured at its lower end to the transverse frame member I54. For guiding the transfer tray against sidewise movement during its vertical movements a rearwardly' extending guide member 264 is secured to the rear portion of the tray and is received within a vertical groove 266 in the rear frame member 26 of the frame H3. The sides of the groove 265 are provided with spring steel members 263, to act upon opposite sides of the guide member 264 to steady it and the transfer tray against. sidewise movement.

After the transfer tray has moved into the broken line position of Fig. 14 the shell is loaded in the gun by a rammer 270. This rammer is carried; at the rearward. end of a hollow shaft 2T2 telescopically mounted on a second hollow shaft 274' which is secured at its forward portion by a bracket 216 (Fig. I) carried by the gun and at its rearward end. to a bracket 218 (Fig. 2') carried by the rear frame member 26. The forward end af the rammer shaft 212 carries a collar 280 having a pin 282 passing through the shaft 214 and acting as an abutmerit for the forward end of a compression spring 284 in the hollow shaft 214, the rearward end of this spring acting against the With the shaft 212 in the posi tion illustrated in Fig. 14, the spring 284 is compressed and thereby assists the driving mechanism in moving the ran'unerforwardly to load a shell. The forward portion of the supporting shaft 2-!4 houses a second compression spring 286 which is engaged by the pin 282 and acts to soften the blow of the rammer during the latter portion of its ramming stroke.

For moving the ram-mer forwardly and rearwardly, the rammer shaft 212 is provided on its under side with rack teeth 288 engageable with a pinion 290. carried by the transverse frame member E54. This pinion is connected by step- -up gearing 292 to a gear segment 294 on the rearward end of an arm 298 pivoted at 298 to one of the side frame members 20. This arm carries a cam: roll 3&0 received by agroove 302 in one of the cams- 2216 on the cam shaft l3fl. At a predetermined time in the rotation of the cam shaft, the arm 2% is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 14 thereby to move the rammer' shaft. 2:12: through the gears 292, pinion 2% and rack teeth 28%, forwardly at a very high rate" of speed to force the shell into the breech end of the gun- After the shell has: been rammed, the rammer is returned into the position shown in Fig. 14 but during: its return movement the transfer tray also moves upwardly as indicated by the cam chart in Fig. 19. In order to avoid interference between the tray and the rammerthe shaft 212 is' rocked on the supporting: shaft 214 to tip the rammer 2% out of the path of movement. of the tray; For this purpose splines 304 are formed in the upper surface of the shaft 212 and are arranged to be engaged by the teeth of a rack 336 extending transversely of the gun and received by a groove in the transverse frame member I53. The opposite end of this rack 30% has teeth out on its vertical rearward face as shown in Fig. 9 for engagement With a pinion 308 carried by a vertically extending shaft 3&3. This pinion also engages teeth in a forwardly extending rack 3i2, carrying at its forward end a cam roll Bid received by a groove 3I5 in the face of one of the cams 226. This groove is so shaped as to operate the rack 3l2 immediately after the shell has been rammed into the gun thereby to tip the rammer arm 213 upwardly to clear the transfer tray and the arm remains in this position until after downward movement of the transfer tray has begun. During the latter part of this downward movement of the tray, the rammer arm is again tipped downwardly into operative position behind the'shell as the next ramming operation begins.

The cam shaft I33 is driven by a motor 316 (Figs. 5 and 6) through a one revolution clutch mechanism 3H3. The motor is connected to the clutch by gears 323, 322, an overload clutch mechanism 32 a worm 326 and a Worm gear 323 rotatable on the cam shaft. The over-load clutch 324 comprises a pair of toothed members normally held in engagement by a spring 330 which allows separation of the members in case of an over load to interrupt the drive to the clutch 3I8.

The clutch 3E8 comprises a driving member 332 secured to the worm gear 328 and provided with a plurality of circular recesses 332 adapted to receive a driving pin 333. This pin is rotatable in a carrier 338 secured by screws 343 to a cam 332 'fast on the cam shaft. With the pin 333 in the position illustrated, the member 332 is free to rotate with respect to the carrier 333 so that no motion is imparted by the driving motor 366 to the cam shaft. If the pin is turned in a counterclockwise direction it will establish a drive between the member 332 and the carrier 338 to cause rotation of the cam shaft.

The pin 336 is normally urged into locking engagement with the member 332 by a springpressed plunger 334 carried by the cam 332, acting upon an upwardly extending ear 346 integral with the pin 336. With the cam shaft at rest, the pin 336 is maintained in the position illustrated against the force exerted by the plunger 344 by an upwardly extending arm 348 of a lever 333 pivoted at 352 in the clutch housing. The lever 350 is normally maintained in looking position with respect to the driving pin 33:; with its upper end underlying an ear 354 of the driving pin by a. spring-pressed plunger 353 acting on an arm 358 of the lever 350. A second spring-pressed plunger 36!! acts on the arm 34!; to assist in maintaining the lever 350 in its locking position.

For moving the lever 350 in a counterclockwise direction against the force exerted by the spring-pressed plungers 35B and 330 thereby to free the driving pin 338 for movement into driving position, a solenoid 362, secured to the housing of the clutch 3H8, is provided. This solenoid includes an armature 334 to the upper end of which is pivoted a latch 366 urged by a spring 338 into locking engagement with an arm 31!! pivoted on a shaft 312 below the lever 350. A pin 314, supported on the outer end of the lever 3T3, underlies a laterally extending ear 316 carried by the lever 350 so that upon movement of the lever 310 in counterclockwise direction by the energization of the solenoid 352 the lever 35!! will be moved in a counterclockwise direction to free the driving pin 333 for movement by the plunger into driving position thereby to efiect movement of the cam shaft. Provision is made for preventing over running or" the cam shaft which is possible with the conventional pin type clutch should the driven member be subjected to a force which might rotate it faster than the drive member. This might take place during the descent of the loading tray carrying a shell by reason of the influence of gravity thereon and in order to insure that the parts operate in a predetermined time relationship, a locking pin 378 journaled in the member 333 is provided. This pin is normally urged in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated by a compression spring 333 in the cam 3 32 acting upon a downwardly projecting ear 382 carried by the pin. With the drive pin 333 in its inoperative position the locking pin 373 is maintained in its inoperative position by a rearward extension of the spring-pressed plunger 33-; engaging the ear 382 of the pin 338 opposite the spring 383. However, when the driving pin 333 is moved into driving position the plunger 3 M moves toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6, thereby permitting movement of the locking pin 318 by the spring 386 into a position in which it prevents over running of the driven member.

In the event that the solenoid 332 is not deenergized after the cam shaft starts rotating, the latch 363 is moved out of engagement with the lever 333 in order to permit the arm 338 of the lever 333 to be moved into the path of movement of the car 35% of the pin 333 to terminate operation of the cam shaft after one revolution. For this purpose the member 338 is provided with a cam surface 332 with which the end of an arm 38 i pivoted at 385 is held in engagement by a spring-pressed plunger 333. The lower end of this plunger projects downwardly into engagement with an arm 336 of a bell crank 332 connected by a pin and slot connection 333 to a link 3% which is connected to the latch 336. After the cam shaft has rotated a small amount, the arm 384 is urged downwardly thereby causing movement of the bell crank lever 332 in a counterclockwise direction which operates through the link 39.3 to move the latch 36%? against the force of the spring 358 out of engagement with the lever 313 which thereby permits return of the lever 353 to the position shown. Accordingly, after the cam shaft completes one revolution the ear 354' of the pin 333 engages the upper extremity of the arm 3 58 to throw the clutch out, even if the solenoid 332; has remained energized throughout this period.

The lever 355 carries a cam roll 39% engageable with a cam surface on the periphery of the cam 332, causing the lever 352 to be moved into its original position after the earn 322 has rotated a predetermined amount. Back lash of the driven member of the clutch, after it has been thrown out, is prevented by engagement of the arm 383 with a shoulder 333 in the member 333. At the end of the cycle of operations the arm 38d is moved by the spring-pressed plunger 388 into the position shown and reverse rotation of the member 338 is thus eifectively prevented.

In order that the operation of the loading mechanism cannot be initiated after the gun is fired until thegun has returned to battery, the

breech has opened and the empty shell case eject- Wardiy.

breechblc'ck B opened, the feeler 4% may move a .11 provision is made for preventing energization of the soiencid 352 until these conditions have been fulfilled. liiounted for vertical sliding movein a goideway 362 (Fig. 18), carrieclxby the breech end of the gun tube T, is an arm ili i having at its lower end a feeler @515. The upper end of the arm is connected byte. pin and slot con-- nection 263 to a lever H8 pivoted at M2 .in a bracket 3M extending upwardly .from the gun tube. A spring die. connected between the lever and the support for the guideway 4G2, urges the lever Me in a counterclockwise direction thereby to move the feeler 496 downwardly. With the breechblock B closed as in Fig. 18, the .feeler rests thereon and thus cannot move downvAfter the .gun has been fired and the downwardly but will engage'the shell -S if the shell has not been ejected from the breech. If the shell has been ejected, the feeler may move downwardly still further thereby to actuate a switch in the circuit of the solenoid as will be described. However, this movement of the ieeler cannot take piece unless the gun has been returned to batte Until tl1is'time,lever ii ii is held in the position illustrated by a latch M8 engageable with a pin 52% (Fig. -11) on the lever M8, the latch M8 being urged into locking position by a springpress'ed plunger 122. U-pon return of the to battery this latch is moved rearwardly against the force of the plunger 4Z2 icy-engagement of the latch with a stop screw 424 carried by a bracket depending downwardly from the frame memher 5234, thereby moving the latch out of locking engagem nt with the pin 'on the lever 23.

With the gun returned to battery and the latch released, the breechblock opened and the shell S ejected, the downward movement of the fecler 6% by the spring 418 causes the lever M9 to move in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon its forward portion enga es an arm 235! (Fig. 23) carried by shaft 432 journaled at its rearward end in the lower end of the bracket 426 and at its forward end in a bracket r34 (Fig. 11) extending upwardly :from the gun carriage C which it will be understood remains stationary relativeto the br eechand tube of the gun during firing. he shaft 132 is normally urged in a clockwise tion as viewed in Figs. 12 and '13 by a spring engageable with a tube $38 carried by the gun Y e above the shaft 53-2. The position to car. which theshaft is moved by the spring 436 is determined by engagement of a stop screw M5 ed by an arm M2 movable with the shaft 2-. with the tube 4'38. Upon movement of the shaft in a counterclockwise direction as heretoicre described, a screw M4 carried by an arm secured to the shaft 432 engages a switch button 5&8 thereby to close the circuit through a switch 555 carried by the bracket 334. This circuit must be closed before the solenoid 352 can be energized. Accordingly it will be obvious that the solenoid cannot be energized except when the gun is at battery with the breechblock open and the empty shell case ejected from the breech of the gun. Movement of the shaft in a counter- ,...cckwise direction by the lever M8 is limited by engagement of a screw 45! carried by the arm 442, with the tube 438.

The shaft 432 is also employed to prevent the lever 3553 (Fig. 6) from moving to throw in the clutch unless the gun is in condition for loading. The shaft 132 carries an arm 452 (Fig. 11) extending upwardly and to which is secured one end of a link 45 3 the other end of which is connected to the front wall so of the magazine.

nected to an arm 456 (Fig. I5.) pivoted at 433 and having an extension 450 movable into engagement with the rear end of the spring-pressed plunger 3%. With the shaft 132 in position shown in Figs. 1.1 to 13, the extension 4138 of the arm 456 (Fig. 6) engages the spring-pressed plunger 35% thereby positively preventing the :arm 3% from moving into position .to free the driving pic 3226 for movement into driving position. Thus it will be seen that until the gun is in condition for loading, the clutch 1H8 cannot be thrown in and the solenoid 362 cannot be energized. The controlling circuits for solenoid will be explained in detail as the description proceeds.

The firin mechanism of the gun is actuated by a motor 564 (Figs. 5 and 7) which operates continuously during the operation of the gun and operates the firing mechanism through a. one-revolution clutch mechanism M56. This clutch is controlled by a solenoid 458 which is energized as will be hereinafter described, upon depression of a :fi'ring button to throw .in the clutch 456. This clutch operates a crank 47!!! to turn it through one revolution upon 'energization of the solenoid. The crank 41s includes a crank pin H2 (Fig. 14) slida'ble within a crank arm 4'54 pivoted at 416 to a bracket M8 secured to a base 339 by which the clutch 568 is con- The outer end of the arm M4 is connected through links 482 and 84 to the upper end of a rack ES-E (Figs. :8 and '9) vertically movable in a housing see carried by the frame member I54. The rack 5 85 meshes with a pinion 492 mounted on one end of ashaft 194, the other end "of which carries a pinion @913 (Fig. 9) which in turn meshes with a horizontally movable rack 498 (Fig. 8). The rearward end of this rack is provided with a head 5% arranged to engage and move a firing pin actuating arm 592 upon rearward movement of the rack during operation of the crank disk Mil. The arm 5E2 actuates a conventional firing pin mechanism (not-shown) tofire the gun.

During operation of the cam shaft 138 to index the shells in the magazine and to load a shell into the gun, the circuit to the solenoid 43B is opened so that the solenoid cannot be energized in the event that the fir-in'g button is prematurely actuated. This is effected by a cam 534 (Figs.

5, 8, 9 and 11) secured. tc thecam shaft 130. An arm 586 pivoted to the frame at 588 carries at its lower end a cam roll 51 0 which is maintained in engagement with the cam 504. This engagement is maintained by a spring-pressed plunger 5 52 which acts through a bell-crank level 51% also pivoted iat 5H8 to the frame. The bellcrank lever includes a depending arm 5]6 one side of which is in engagement with the plunger M 2 and the other side of which engages an adjustable stop screw 5-1 8 carried by the arm 596. The bell-crank lever also includes an arm 528 arranged upon movement of the lever in a counterclockwise direction to open the circuits through a pair of switches 32?. and 52 4 (Fig. '9').

This movement of the bell-crank lever is effected during operation of the cam shaft during the indexing and loading operations, the cam roll 51c riding upon a high portion of the cam him. The switches 522 and 5-24 are thus maintained open until the last portion of the operation of the cam shaft after the shell has been loaded in the gun, whereupon'the 0am roll 5-10 moves into the depression of the cam 504 as shown in Fig. 1-1, permitting the switches 5'22 and "521 to move 13 into their normally closed positionsJ As will be hereinafter explained the switch 522 opens the circuit to the solenoid 568 of the firing mechanism and the switch 524 controls the operation of a pilot light to give a visual indication to the operator that the gun is loaded and is ready for firing.

Operation In describing the operation it will first be assumed that the magazine and gun are both empty of shells. Since it is first necessary to load the magazine the control arm I95 (Fig. 7) is moved in a counterclockwise direction,

thereby to move the pin I12 (Figs. 9 and 10).

out of engagement with the lever I'M to disconnect the lever from the" gear segment 165 so that during the operation of the cam shaft the gates at the release station will not be opened. This movement of the arm I95 causes the opening of a switch 535 (Fig. '7) mounted on the front wall 30 of the magazine and the closing of a switch 532 mounted adjacent to the switch 535. For this purpose the arm 1% includes a lateral extension 535 connected by a link 538 to a lever 538 pivoted below the switches 530 and 532 and carrying screws 540 arranged selectively to close one or the other of the switches in accordance with the position of the arm 596. Referring now to Fig. 20 a main power switch 542 is closed to operate the cam shaft motor 5I5, a shell is placed in the magazine at the loading station by inserting the nose between the plates 64 and 68 (Fig. 14) and the rear end of the shell case upon the plunger I 55, pressing down the plunger to permit the rim of the shell case to be inserted behind the plate 55. A loading switch 544 (Figs. 7 and 20) is now closed by depressing a button 555 thereby closing a circuit through the clutch solenoid 352 as follows: From a line wire 55? through the power switch 542, circuit breaker 548, wires 55!, 552, loading-gate switch 532 which is closed at this time, the switch 552, wires 554, 555 and solenoid 352 to ground. The energization of the solenoid throws in the onerevolution clutch M8 to cause the cam shaft to rotate through 360 to index the shell inserted at the loading station and move it one step in the magazine. Another shell is then inserted in the loading station and the operation repeated, this being done until the magazine is completely filled with shells. During this time the gun remains empty inasmuch as the loading gates are closed preventing the shells being transferred into ramming position by the transfer tray. With the magazine thus filled the arm I95 (Fig. 7) is moved into the position illustrated thereby opening the switch 532 and closing the switch 535. During the loading of the magazine and until such time as it is desired to fire the gun, a fire interrupter switch 558 (Fig. 20) is maintained open so that no shell is loaded into the gun. As soon as this switch is closed a circuit through the clutch solenoid 352 is established as follows: Through wires 54?, 555, 552, 5513, switch 530 which is now closed, Wire 552, switch 553, wire 555, the contacts 566 of the breech switch 455 which is in the position illustrated when the breechblock is open and the gun is not loaded, wires 558 and 555 through solenoid 352 to ground. Thus it will be seen that as soon as the fire interrupter switch is closed after the loading operation, the solenoid 352 is energized causing one revolution of the cam shaft and causing a shell to be loaded into the gun as heretofore described, it being understood that at this time the gear segment I66 (Fig. 9) is connected to the lever I'M operated by the cam i811, to cause opening of the gates at the release station. The gun is now loaded and ready to fire. An indication of this is imparted to the gunner by a pilot light 515 a circuit through which is established as follows: From line wire 54! through wires 555, 552, 5%, switch 530, wire 562, switch 558, wire 554, contacts 572 of the breech switch which are now closed by the automatic closing of the breechblock after the shell has been loaded, wire 514, the cam operated switch 524 and wire 575 through the pilot light 5H! to ground. This light gives an indication to the gunner the gun is loaded and ready to be fired and the firing is effected by depressing a button 578 of a firing switch 580. This establishes a circuit through the firing actuator solenoid 458 as follows: From line wire 55! through wires 555, 552, 5553, switch 550, wire 552, switch 558, wire 5153, switch 5'18, wire 582, cam operated switch 522 and wire 584 through the solenoid 458 to ground. The energization of this solenoid actuates the firing mechanism and the gun is fired. Following firing of the gun the breechblock is opened and the shell ejected in the conventional manner whereupon the breech switch 455 moves into the position illustrated in Fig. 20 in which the contacts 555 are closed. Accordingly a circuit through the clutch solenoid 352, including the switch 558 which is now closed, is established as heretofore described causing the magazine to index another shell to be loaded in the gun. During this time the switch 522 is opened by the cam 555 so that the firing mechanism will not be actuated prematurely in the event that gunner should inadvertently close the firing switch 580. In the event that the shell, after firing, should not be properly ejected from the gun, the breech switch will not move into the position illustrated in Fig. 19 and no circuit will be established through the clutch solenoid 562 so that the mechanism will not attempt to load a shell into the gun unless the gun has been properly emptied of the previously fired shell case. Should it be desired to have the gun remain empty following the firing of the shell as may be the case following destruction of the target and return of the plane to its base before all the shells have been used, the fire interrupter switch 555 would be opened so that after the shell in the gun is fired and the breech switch 455 moves into the position shown, no circuit through the clutch solenoid will be established.

The magazine per se is not claimed herein but forms the subject-matter of divisional application Serial No. 688,523, filed August 5, 1946.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step in the magazine to a release station in the lower part thereof, a transfer tray movable to carry a shell from a shell-receiving position at the release station into a ramming position from which the shell may be rammed into the gun, a retractable gate for permitting movement of the shell from the magazine by said transfer tray, a cam shaft for operating said gate, said indexing means and said transfer tray in a predetermined time sequence, and means for disconnecting said gateoperating mechanism from said cam shaft to cameos l prevent removal :of the shells from the magazine by the transfer tray during a magazine loading operation.

2. Gun-loadin mechanism comprising shell magazine, means for indexing shells "step by step in the magazine to a release station and loading them into a gun, means operative automatically in response to ejection of the empty :shell case following a firing operation for operating said first named means, manually operable means for operating said first named means, and means placing such first named means selectively under the control of said automatically operated means or said manually operated means;

3. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step in the magazine to a release station and loading them into a gun, means operative automatically in response to ejection of the empty shell 'case following a firing operation for operating said first named means, manually operable means for also operating said first named means, means placing said first named means selectively under the control of said automatically operated means or said manually operated means, and means preventing withdrawal of shells from the magazine at the release station when the first named means is under the control of the manually operated means.

4. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step in the magazine to a release station, means for withdrawing shells from the release station and loading them into a gun, means operable automatically .in response to ejection of the empty shell case following a firing operation for operating said first named means, manually operable means for operating said first named means, means for rendering said withdrawing means ineffective to withdraw shells from the release'station, and means operative in response to operation of said last named means for placing said first named means under the control of said manually operable means.

5. Gun-loading mechanism comprising .a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step in the magazine to a release station, gates at said release station for controlling the removal cf shells from the magazine, a transfer tray for transporting shells from the release station into ramming position, a rammer for loading the shells into the un, .a drive shaft for operating said indexing means, gates, transfertray and-rammer in a predetermined sequence, and means for disconnecting the gates from the drive shaft to prevent removal of the shells from the magazine during the loading of the magazine.

6. Gun-loading mechanism comprising .a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step in the magazine to a release station, gates at said release station for controlling the removal of shells from the magazine, a transfer tray for transportin shells from the release station into ramming position, a rammer for loading the shells into a gun, a drive shaft for operating said indexing means, gates, transfer tray and rammer in .a predetermined sequence, a drive motor, a one-revolution clutch connecting said motor and said drive shaft, and means operative in response to ejection of a fired she'll from the gun for operating said clutch to connect said drive shaft to said motor.

'7. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexingshells step by step in the magazine to a release station, gates 'at said release station for controlling the removal :of shells from the magazine, ;a transfer tray for transporting shells from the release station into ramming position, a rammer for loading the shells into argun, a drive shaft for operating said indexing means, gates, transfer tray and rammer in predetermined sequence, a drive motor, a one-revolution clutch connecting said motor and said drive shaft, means operative in response to ejection of a fired s'hell from the gun for operating said clutch to connect said drive shaft to said motor, means for disconnecting said gates from said drive shaft to prevent removal of shells from the magazine during the loading thereof and simultaneously rendering said last named means inoperative, and, manually controlled means for operatin said clutch during loading of the magazine.

8. Loading mechanism for a gun having a breech block comprising a drive shaft, means operated by the drive shaft for loading shells into a gun, electrically operated means for causing operation of said drive shaft, a switch .normally closing a circuit to said electrically operated means, and means associated with the breech end of the gun for maintaining said switch open as long as the breechblock is closed or a shell is in the gun.

9. Loading mechanism for a gun having a breechblock comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step to a, release station in the magazine, means for removing a shell from the magazine at the release station and loading it into the gun, a drive shaft for operating said indexing means and said loading means, electrically operated means for causing operation of said drive shaft, a "switch normally closing a circuit to said electrically operated means, and means associated with the breech end of the gun for maintaining said switch open as long as the breechblock is closed or ashellis in the gun.

10. Loadin mechanism for a gun having a breechblock comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step to a release station in the magazine, means for freeing a shell for removal at the release station, means for removing a freed she'll from the magazine at the release station and loading it into the gun, a drive shaft for operating said indexing means and said loading means, electrically operated means for causing operation of said drive shaft, a switch normally closing a circuit to said electrically operated means, means associated with the breech end of the gun for maintaining said switch open as long as the breechblock is closed or a shell is in the gun, means for disconnecting said shell-freeing means from the drive shaft, means operative in response to operation of said disconnecting means for rendering said switch ineffective to close the circuit to said electrically operated means, and a manually controlled means for said electrically operated means while theshell-freeing means is disconnected from the drive shaft.

ll. Gun-loading mechanism comprising ashell magazine, a transfer tray for transporting shells from the magazine into ramming position, said transfer tray being provided with a pair of doors arranged for engagement with opposite sides of a shell, means urging said doors into shell-engaging positions, and means for locking said doors in shell-engaging position after a shell has been received by the tray and prior to movement of the tray to carry the shell into ramming position.

17 12. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step to a release station in the magazine, a retractable gate for permitting removal of a shell from the magazine at the release station, a transfer tray for transporting shells from the release station of the magazine into ramming position, said transfer tray being provided with a pair of doors arranged for engagement with opposite sides of a shell, means urging said doors into shell-engaging positions, means for retracting said gate upon movement of the tray into shell-receiving position, and means for simultaneously locking said doors in shell-engaging positions.

13. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a shell magazine, means for indexing shells step by step to a release station in the magazine, a retractable gate for permitting removal of a shell from the magazine at the release station, a transfer tray for transporting shells from the release station of the magazine into ramming position, said transfer tray being provided with a pair of doors arranged for engagement with opposite sides of a shell, means urging said doors into shell-engaging positions, means for retracting said gates upon movement of the tray into shell-receiving position, means for simultaneously locking said doors in shell-engaging positions, and means for rendering said gate-retracting and door-locking means inoperative, to enable loading of the magazine without moving the shells therefrom.

OTTO R. HAAS.

18 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 691,839 McClean Apr. 5, 1898 851,196 Bevans et al Apr. 23, 1907 1,008,162 Krnka Nov. 7, 1911 10 1,099,621 Schildbach June 4, 1914 1,273,078 McManus July 16, 1918 1,602,570 Conlon Oct. 12, 1926 1,749,137 Hudson Mar. 4, 1930 1,750,724 Methlin Mar. 18, 1930 15 1,782,148 Ross Nov. 18, 1930 1,786,207 Hudson Dec. 23, 1930 1,811,694 Larsson et al June 23, 1931 2,112,660 Hudson Mar. 29, 1938 2,122,423 Joyce July 5, 1938 0 2,151,288 Waninger Mar. 21, 1939 2,322,490 Webb June 22, 1943 2,339,869 Martin Jan. 25, 1944 2,359,517 Gebeau Oct. 3, 1944 2,366,395 Hall Jan. 2, 1945 25 2,369,244 Lowe Feb. 13, 1945 2,380,455 Lippert et a1 July 31, 1945 FQREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3 20,009 Great Britain 1913 384,239 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1932 491,337 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1938 122,587 Austria Apr. 25, 1931 

